Drone delivery platform to facilitate delivery of parcels by unmanned aerial vehicles

ABSTRACT

An elevated delivery platform having a delivery surface that can be placed at a location off the ground to better facilitate delivery of parcels by unmanned aerial vehicles, such as delivery drones, is provided. By placing the elevated delivery platform in an area above the ground, such as atop a home or a pole, a drone is more capable of making deliveries because it avoids obstacles nearer to the ground that typically make drone delivery challenging. The elevated delivery platform raises and lowers parcels to a position where they can easily be retrieved. Some systems also provide a deployable cover to protect parcels from adverse weather conditions while awaiting pickup or following delivery. The elevated delivery platform can be used as part of a drone delivery system that can also include a containment unit, a computer application, or any combination of these aspects.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This continuation patent application claims priority to U.S.Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/704,967, filed on Dec. 5,2019 and entitled “A Drone Delivery Platform to Facilitate Delivery ofParcels by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles,” which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety, and which claims priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/776,355 filed on Dec. 6, 2018 and entitled “DroneDelivery System to Send and Receive Parcels.”

Furthermore, this continuation application is also related to U.S.application Ser. No. 16/704,974, filed concurrently with theabove-referenced parent application (i.e., Ser. No. 16/704,967) on Dec.5, 2019, and entitled “A Containment Unit for Facilitating ParcelDelivery By Unmanned Aerial Vehicle,” and incorporated by reference intothe above-referenced parent patent application Ser. No. 16/704,967.

BACKGROUND

Home delivery of parcels has traditionally been performed using humancouriers. Delivery companies have begun to explore the possibility ofdelivering parcels using unmanned systems in collaboration with humancouriers to increase delivery efficiency and to decrease the physicaldemands on human couriers. However, there remain unsolved problems whendelivering parcels using unmanned technologies.

SUMMARY

At a high level, aspects described herein relate to an elevated deliveryplatform having a delivery surface that can be placed at a location offthe ground to better facilitate delivery of parcels by unmanned aerialvehicles (UAVs), such as delivery drones. The elevated delivery platformcan be attached to an object off the ground, such as a pole or a home.By placing the elevated delivery platform in an area above the ground, adelivery drone is more easily capable of making deliveries to theplatform by removing many of the obstacles nearer to the ground thattypically make drone delivery challenging. This further increases thesafety of drone delivery by allowing drones to stay in the air abovepeople and property. The elevated platform facilitates drone delivery byreceiving parcels from drones and safely lowering the parcels so thatthey can be retrieved by a person. Similarly, parcels can be elevatedfrom the ground level to the elevated platform to be retrieved bydrones.

Some systems also include mechanism for protecting parcels from adverseweather conditions, such as a cover that forms a protected area around aparcel. These systems are beneficial because parcels can be left forextended periods of time, either awaiting pick up or after delivery. Notonly does this protect parcels from weather conditions and allow forbroader time windows for parcel delivery, but the elevation and coveralso provide additional security to protect parcel from thieves, alsoknown as “porch pirates.”

The elevated delivery platform can be used as part of a personal dronedelivery system that can also include a containment unit, a computerapplication, or any combination of these aspects.

This summary is intended to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the detaileddescription section of this disclosure. This summary is not intended toidentify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor isit intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimedsubject matter.

Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the technologywill be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in partwill become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of thefollowing or learned by practice of the technology.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present technology is described in detail below with reference tothe attached drawing figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an example operating environment for drone delivery, inaccordance with embodiments described herein;

FIG. 2 is an example use-case environment for a delivery platform, inaccordance with embodiments described herein;

FIGS. 3-5 are top views of the delivery platform of FIG. 2, inaccordance with embodiments described herein;

FIGS. 6-7 are bottom views of the delivery platform of FIG. 2, inaccordance with embodiments described herein;

FIGS. 8-9 illustrate an example use-case scenario of the deliveryplatform of FIG. 2, in accordance with embodiments described herein;

FIGS. 10-12 illustrate another example embodiment of a delivery platformin accordance with embodiments described herein;

FIG. 13 illustrates an example use-case scenario for the deliveryplatform of FIGS. 10-12, in accordance with embodiments describedherein;

FIG. 14 illustrates an example embodiment of a cover for a deliveryplatform, in accordance with embodiments described herein;

FIG. 15 illustrates another example embodiment of a delivery platform,in accordance with embodiments described herein;

FIGS. 16-21 illustrate another example embodiment of a delivery platformand an example method for utilizing the delivery platform to secure aparcel to a UAV, in accordance with embodiments described herein;

FIG. 22 illustrates an example of releasing the parcel of FIGS. 16-21from the UAV, in accordance with embodiments described herein;

FIGS. 23-26 illustrate an example embodiment of a containment unit andan example method for retrieving a parcel from a delivery platform, inaccordance with embodiments described herein;

FIGS. 27-29 illustrate an example use-case environment for an exampledelivery platform and one or more example containment units for amulti-story, multi-occupant dwelling, in accordance with embodimentsdescribed herein;

FIG. 30 illustrates an example use-case environment of an exampledelivery platform, an example unmanned terrestrial vehicle (UTV), and anexample containment unit, in accordance with embodiments describedherein;

FIG. 31 illustrates the UTV of FIG. 30 delivering a parcel to thecontainment unit, in accordance with embodiments described herein;

FIGS. 32-36 illustrate an example method of dropping off parcels at anexample containment unit, in accordance with embodiments describedherein;

FIGS. 37-39 illustrate another example embodiment of a containment unitand an example method of removing a parcel from the containment unit, inaccordance with embodiments described herein;

FIG. 40 illustrates another example embodiment of a containment unit, inaccordance with embodiments described herein;

FIG. 41 illustrates an example computing device, in accordance withembodiments described herein; and

FIGS. 42-46 illustrate a selection of example methods that may beperformed using the described technology, in accordance with embodimentsdescribed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure provides for a personal drone delivery system.The delivery system may be an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) deliveryplatform, a containment unit, a computer application, or any combinationof these.

Throughout this disclosure, “unmanned systems” include systems that arecapable of operating for at least a period of time without input from anon-board human. Unmanned systems may include terrestrial, aquatic, oraerial vehicles. An unmanned system may sometimes include a human onboard who is capable of taking control of the unmanned system or thatprovides instructions to the unmanned system. Some unmanned systems mayoperate without a human on board, but may be controlled or partiallycontrolled remotely by a human pilot. Some unmanned systems may operateautonomously by receiving instructions from a computer program. Thus, tocomplete an objective, an unmanned system may operate autonomously,under the guidance of received instructions, or under partial or totalcontrol of a human pilot. The word “drone” is synonymous with “unmannedsystem” as used herein.

One example of an aerial unmanned system is an unmanned aerial vehicle,more commonly called a UAV. The UAVs discussed and illustrated in thisdisclosure are a four-rotor vertical takeoff and landing UAVs. However,the UAV may include any number of rotors, may be embodied as be afixed-wing aircraft, or some combination of both.

As used in this disclosure, the word “delivery” is intended to mean both“to drop off” and “to pick up,” unless one of the options isimpracticable. For example, a “delivery vehicle” is a vehicle capable ofpicking up a parcel and dropping off a parcel at a location.

Having this in mind, the present technology describes a personal dronedelivery system that may include a UAV delivery platform, a containmentunit, a computer application, or any combination of these. Thisdisclosure describes the delivery system as a “personal” system, andmany of the embodiments are discussed in the context of a person's homeor place of living. It is not intended to be limited to suchembodiments, but may also be used in the context of business orindustries, including business locations that are primarily engaged inparcel delivery.

At a high level, the UAV delivery platform may be an elevated surface tofacilitate the delivery of parcels from a UAV. As used herein, the UAVdelivery platform may also be referred to as simply a “deliveryplatform.” The delivery platform may be elevated by mounting it onto astructure, including a pole, a home, an apartment building, or the like.In some instances, it may be mounted on a track system to move thedelivery platform along the track system. The delivery platform maycommunicate with different devices and systems, such as a mobile userdevice and a UAV. The delivery platform may include one or more ofseveral different sensors to facilitate communication and delivery, suchas antennas, cameras, weather sensors, pressure sensors, and the like.

The delivery platform may comprise an elevating surface. The elevatingsurface may be raised and lowered. As such, when a parcel is dropped offat the delivery platform by a UAV, the parcel may be lowered from thedelivery platform by the elevating surface to a lower position where theparcel may be retrieved by a person. In some cases, the parcel may belowered by the elevating surface and placed into a containment unit.

The containment unit may comprise a housing to protect the parcel fromenvironmental elements and to provide security to the parcel. Thecontainment unit may receive the parcel from the elevating surface. Todo so, the containment unit may extend a portion of the housing over theelevating surface having the parcel. Then, the portion of the housingmay be retracted so that an end of the housing unit pulls the parcelinto the housing. The containment unit may store the parcel until it isretrieved by a person or drone.

Each of the delivery platform and the containment unit may be operatedautonomously using predetermined or learned instructions. The deliveryplatform and the containment unit may also be controlled using acomputer application, sometimes referred to as an “app” or “mobile app.”For example, the elevating surface of the delivery platform may beraised and lowered in response to instructions received from a mobiledevice executing an app.

Having described a high level summary of the technology, example aspectsare provided below in further detail with reference to the figures.

Operating Environment

FIG. 1 provides an example operating environment 100 that may be usedfor drone delivery. Operating environment 100 is illustrated as havingdelivery platform 120, drone 130, containment unit 140, user device 150,and storage 160. Each of these is shown communicating through network110. Network 110 may include, without limitation, local area networks(LANs) and wide area networks (WANs). Network 110 may comprise theInternet and cellular networks, or any of a variety of possible publicand private networks. In some instances, network 110 may comprise directhard-wire communication, or any form of short- or long-rangecommunication methods, such as infrared (IR) or Bluetooth. Becauseoperating environment 100 is intended only to illustrate one exampleenvironment, it should not be read as limiting the operating environmentto only the illustrated components, but rather, it may include anycombination of these or other components.

Delivery platform 120 may be any platform that facilitates parceldelivery by a drone, such as drone 130. Some example embodiments ofsuitable delivery platforms will be further described in thisdisclosure. Drone 130, while illustrated as a UAV, may be any unmannedsystem. In a specific embodiment that will be described in more detail,drone 130 is a UAV having parcel carrier 132. Containment unit 140 isalso illustrated within operating environment 100, and may comprise anydevice for housing or securing a parcel during the delivery process.Specific example embodiments of containment unit 140 are described inmore detail in this disclosure.

User device 150 represents any device that may receive user inputs andcommunicate information through network 110. One suitable example ofuser device 150 that may be utilized with the present technology iscomputing device 1200, which is described in more detail below withreference to FIG. 41. However, more general examples of user device 150may include smartphones, smartwatches, personal computers, tablets,personal digital assistants, or the like. User device 150 may be capableof executing a computer application, more commonly referred to as an“app” or a “mobile app.” An app is a computer-readable software codethat may be executed by a processor of user device 150 and may be storedin storage 160.

In general, storage 160 stores computer-usable information, such as dataor instructions. One example of storage 160 is described in FIG. 41 withreference to memory 1212. Storage 160 may store information that isutilized by any of the other components illustrated in operatingenvironment 100 or described throughout this disclosure. While storage160 is depicted as a single data store, storage 160 may include one ormore data stores or may be in a cloud environment. Storage 160 mayinclude remote data stores or may be integrated within any of thecomponents in operating environment 100.

Delivery Platform

FIG. 2 provides a general overview 201 of delivery platform 200 in anexample use environment. Here, delivery platform 200 is fixed tostructure 202, which is an example location that may send or receiveparcels. Delivery platform 200 may be fixed to an area on structure 202so that delivery platform 200 is elevated above structure 202 or atleast above a majority of structure 202. Delivery platform 200 is shownin FIG. 2 as coupled to track system 204 that runs along rooftop 203.Other track system locations may be used and are discussed in moredetail below. Track system 204 may move delivery platform 200 from afirst position on structure 202 to a second position on structure 202.The first position may be higher in elevation than the second position,and the first position may be used to facilitate delivery of a parcel208 by UAV 206. The second position may be used to facilitate elevatingor lowering a parcel 208 to or from delivery platform 200 so that it maybe retrieved by a person on the ground. Various aspects of theseelements will be described in more detail below.

At a high level, however, delivery platform 200 solves several problemsthat have been encountered when delivering parcels using drones. Whendelivering parcels using UAVs, one problem that is sometimes encounteredis a difficult terrain at the delivery location. The delivery locationmay be surrounded by obstacles such as trees or vehicles, or may begeographically sloped. These issues can make take-offs and landings ornear-ground pick ups and releases difficult. Similarly, there areadditional safety concerns when delivering parcels using UAVs,particularly when navigating UAVs near the ground. For instance, people,animals, and property may be near the delivery location at the time ofthe delivery.

To solve these problems, some of the delivery platforms described in thepresent disclosure, such as delivery platform 200, are elevated abovethese obstacles and safety concerns. Thus, when UAVs are deliveringparcels, many of these obstacles and safety concerns may be avoided.This also has the added benefit of allowing UAV delivery to take placeat a greater number of delivery locations. Since there are currentlymany delivery addresses that may not be able to take advantage of UAVdelivery due to the delivery location's structure or its terrain, thedelivery platforms described throughout this disclosure provide systemsthat allow these locations to begin using UAV delivery methods.Additionally, the elevated aspects of the delivery platforms provideenhanced security for people shipping and receiving parcels. Instead ofplacing a parcel on the ground, such as on a porch, the parcels may beselectively raised to an elevated, more secure position, and they maystay in this position until retrieved by a UAV or a person on theground.

Turning now to FIG. 3, a top view of delivery platform 200 is provided.Delivery platform 200 is shown in the second position, which is lower inelevation than the first position, shown in FIG. 2. In the secondposition, delivery platform 200 may extend over edge 205 of rooftop 203so that there is no obstruction below a bottom of delivery platform 200to the ground or release point.

In general, delivery platform 200 may comprise delivery surface 210.Delivery surface 210 may include elevating surface 212, which maycomprise substantially all of delivery surface 210 or only a portion ofdelivery surface 210. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, elevatingsurface 212 is shown as comprising a portion of delivery surface 210,while another portion of delivery surface 210 includes stationarysurface 214. Here, stationary surface 214 surrounds elevating surface212, and elevating surface 212 is recessed below stationary surface 214.Additionally, delivery surface 210 may be proximate outer rim 216, whichmay be fixed to outer rim 216 and extend upward therefrom.

Delivery platform 200 may comprise cover 218. Cover 218 may beretractable so as not to obstruct delivery of a parcel by a UAV. Asillustrated, cover 218 is in a retracted position. Cover 218 may becomprised of segments, such as segments 220A and 220B, that stacktogether when cover 218 is in the retracted position. In a coveredposition, the segments may extend end to end. FIG. 4 shows an example ofcover 218 in the covered position having segments 220A and 220B in theend-to-end configuration. In the end-to-end configuration, the segmentscover the top of delivery platform 200 to protect parcel 208 fromexternal conditions, such as weather, while the parcel is on thedelivery surface 210. Cover 218 may be deployed from the retractedposition, such as that shown in FIG. 3, to the covered position, such asthat shown in FIG. 4 by rotating about pivot 222. This rotation isillustrated as in FIG. 4 as directional arrow 224. When cover 218 is inthe covered position, outer edge 226 of cover 218 may be positionedoutside outer rim 216 to limit the amount of external moisture fromcontacting delivery surface 210 or parcel 208.

In another embodiment, which is not illustrated, a cover may comprise aplastic or other waterproof polymer material. This may include one ormore sheets of material. The material may be secured at one end to adelivery platform and to a rotatable arm at the other end. The covermaterial may be deployed by rotating the arm over the top of thedelivery platform, thereby covering the platform with the covermaterial.

Delivery platforms, such as delivery platform 200 may include climatecontrols, for example, controls that regulate the temperature andhumidity within delivery platform 200. In such cases, parcels thatrequire particular temperature ranges or moisture conditions can bedelivered using UAVs. This is particularly helpful when deliveringmedicine-allowing medicine to be delivered and held until a personretrieves it, or to be stored for a period of time prior to being pickedup by a UAV. To do so, delivery platform 200 further comprises acompressor, not shown. The compressor removes heat from within acontained area of delivery platform 200, for example, an area that isformed when cover 218 is deployed. Cover 218 may comprise insulationthat forms an insulated area when deployed. Delivery platform 200 mayalso comprise a dehumidifier, not shown, that removes moisture fromwithin the contained area. Cover 218 can further comprise outer edge226. When cover 218 is deployed, outer edge 226 secures into a recessedarea of outer rim 216 to form a seal. In some cases, outer edge 226forms a seal by contacting outer rim 216 of cover 218. This is just oneexample, and others include outer rim 216 of cover contacting outer edge226 an inside part of outer edge 226, on an outside part of outer edge226, or by directly contacting a surface of delivery platform 200 whendeployed, and can form a seal at each of these locations.

With reference back to FIG. 3, delivery platform 200 may comprise one ormore sensors. For example, some sensors include those illustrated onanemometer 228, wind vane 230, and camera 232. While not illustrated,delivery surface 210 may include a scale to determine weight of parcelsthat are placed on delivery surface 210. Each of these sensors maydetermine information and communicate this information to a UAVdelivering a parcel. Wireless communication may be facilitated byantenna 236, which may be used with any of the communication methodspreviously discussed, such as Wi-Fi. As an example, anemometer 228 maycollect wind speed, while wind vane 230 may collect wind direction. Thismay be communicated to a UAV during delivery of a parcel to assist inguiding the UAV so that the parcel may be released or retrieved from thedelivery surface 210.

Additionally, delivery platform 200 may have an associated waypointidentification. The waypoint identification may guide the UAV todelivery platform 200 using a satellite positioning system, such as theGlobal Positioning System (GPS).

Camera 232 may be any type of camera known in the art. It may bepositioned to detect the presence of a parcel, such as parcel 208, ondelivery surface 210. Camera 232 may also be used to determine liveimages of delivery platform 200 that are communicated to a UAVdelivering a parcel to guide the UAV during release or retrieval. Camera232 may further be used to detect machine-readable indicia, such aslabels, that are on the parcel. Camera 232, or another camera associatedwith delivery platform 200, may point in an upward direction to collectimages as the UAV approaches. These images can provide positioninginformation to the UAV during the approach by transmitting this back tothe UAV. This helps increase accuracy when delivering the parcel.

The various sensors may be utilized to deploy cover 218 from theretracted position to the covered position. Looking to FIG. 5, as anexample, parcel 208 may be delivered by UAV 206. As previouslydescribed, this may include release of parcel 208 at delivery platform200 or pick up of parcel 208 at delivery platform 200. When parcel 208is released at delivery platform 200, camera 232 may detect that parcel208 is present at delivery surface 210. Based on detecting that parcel208 is present on delivery surface 210, cover 218 may be deployed fromthe retracted position, as shown in FIG. 5, to the covered position, asshown in FIG. 4. Other methods for detecting the presence of parcel 208on delivery surface 210 may be used to determine when to deploy cover218. For example, an indication that parcel 208 has been delivered maybe received from a delivery service or UAV 206. Other sensors, such as ascale that determines a force applied to delivery surface 210, may beused in addition to or in lieu of camera 232.

In another example, UAV 206 may be approaching delivery platform 200having parcel 208. Delivery platform 200 may receive an indication fromUAV 206 that UAV 206 intends to release parcel 208 on delivery surface210. In response to the indication from UAV 206, delivery platform 200may determine whether cover 218 is in the retracted position or in thecovered position. If cover 218 is in the covered position, as in FIG. 4,then delivery platform 200 may move cover 218 from the covered positionto the retracted position, shown in FIG. 5, by rotating pivot 222 in thedirection indicated by directional arrow 238.

With continued reference to FIGS. 3-5, the various sensors may be usedto determine information about a parcel 208. For instance, the scaleassociated with delivery surface 210 may be used to determine a weightof parcel 208, which may be used to determine the type of UAV needed toretrieve parcel 208, as some delivery UAVs will have a greater payloadcapacity than others. Further, camera 232 may be used to detect an imagemachine-readable indicia 240, from which delivery information may bedetermined, such as a delivery address.

Turning now to FIGS. 6-7, a bottom view of delivery platform 200 whencover 218 is in the covered position, is provided. Delivery platform 200comprises delivery surface 210, which includes elevating surface 212 andstationary surface 214. Elevating surface 212 may be raised and loweredfrom an elevated position to a lowered position by lift 242. Lift 242may comprise one or more lift cables 244. The lift cables 244 may beretracted or extended by lift 242 so that elevating surface 212 movesupward to the elevated position or downward to the lowered position.FIG. 6 illustrates elevating surface 212 in the elevated position, whileFIG. 7 illustrates elevating surface 212 in transition from the elevatedposition to the lowered position. In some cases, as a parcel is loweredby elevating surface 212, a battery associated with delivery platform200 may be charged by a generator that is turned based on thegravity-assisted lowering of elevating surface 212 and the parcel. Theenergy stored in the battery during the lowering with the parcel may beused to raise the elevating platform to the raised position.

To facilitate raising and lowering elevating surface 212, deliveryplatform 200 may comprise guide cable 246 and one or more guide wheels250. Guide cable 246 may comprise guide fastener 248. Guide cable 246may be coupled to the bottom of elevating surface 212, and may be raisedand lowered independent of elevating surface 212. Guide cable 246 may beextended or retracted in a winch-like fashion. In general, guide cable246 may be used to facilitate raising and lowering of elevating surface212. With brief reference to FIGS. 8-9, which show another exampleuse-case scenario for delivery platform 200, the figures illustrate anexample use of guide cable 246. FIG. 8 illustrates guide cable 246 inthe retracted position. Guide cable 246 may be independently loweredfrom elevating surface 212 to a lowered position near the ground byextending guide cable 246. In some cases, guide cable 246 may befastened to support 252 on or near the ground using guide fastener 248,as illustrated in FIG. 9. As elevating surface 212 is lowered by lift242, guide cable 246 may be retracted to keep tension along guide cable246. By retracting guide cable 246 while lowering elevating surface 212,elevating surface 212 is less likely to sway about lift cables 244,reducing the risk of elevating surface 212 contacting structure 202 andreducing the risk that parcel 208 shifts when raising or loweringelevating surface 212. This process may be similar for raising elevatingsurface 212 to its elevated position. For example, as elevating surfaceis raised by lift 242, guide cable 246 may be extended to keep tensionon guide cable 246 and one or more lift cables, such as lift cable 244.

Guide wheels 250 may also serve to facilitate the safe raising andlowering of elevating surface 212. Turning back to FIG. 7, guide wheels250 may be fixed to the bottom of elevating surface 212, and they mayextend outward and away from elevating surface 212 in the direction ofstructure 202. Guide wheels 250 may contact a sidewall of structure 202as elevating surface 212 is raised and lowered. This stabilizeselevating surface 212 while it is being raised and lowered, making itless likely to sway.

As indicated above, delivery platform 200 is only an example of oneembodiment of a delivery platform. Another example embodiment of adelivery platform is described with reference to FIGS. 10-14. Referenceis first made to FIG. 10, which provides a top view of delivery platform300, and to FIG. 11, which provides a bottom view of delivery platform300. Here, delivery platform 300 is movably coupled to vertical tracksystem 304, where delivery platform 300 and vertical track system 304are together referred to as a “delivery system.” Delivery platform 300may comprise delivery surface 310, which may include elevating surface312 and stationary surface 314. In some cases, delivery platform 300 mayonly comprise elevating surface 312, or it may have only a portion aselevating surface 312 and further comprise a portion as stationarysurface 314. Stationary surface 314 can comprise stationary edge 317.Outer rim 319 can extend upward and away from stationary edge 317

Delivery platform 300 may also comprise chamber 306. Chamber 306 mayinclude a bottom portion that includes elevating surface 312 and top rim315. Chamber 306 may include sidewall 316 extending from elevatingsurface 312 to top rim 315. Top rim 315 may be horizontally aligned withstationary surface 314. In cases where there is no stationary surface,top rim 315 may include an outer edge of delivery surface 310, notillustrated. Sidewall 316 may be expandable, such as in an accordionconfiguration. Put another way, sidewall 316 may be able to expand andcontract vertically between top rim 315 and elevating surface 312 as thedistance between top rim 315 and elevating surface 312 increases ordecreases. In this way, chamber 306 may be a variable volume chamber. Insome cases, elevating surface 312 may be detached from sidewall 316.

Chamber 306 may be utilized to store one or more parcels, such as parcel308 (interchangeably referred to as second parcel 308). Chamber 306 mayalso allow for delivery of multiple parcels. Since chamber 306 can storeparcels vertically, e.g., one on top of the other, multiple deliveriesmay be made to delivery platform 300. In this way, delivery platform 300does not have to be made horizontally larger, such as having to make thesize of delivery surface 310 of delivery platform 300 larger toaccommodate multiple parcels. This allows for delivery platform 300 tobe placed at a greater number of delivery locations, including thosewhere a larger delivery platform may be challenging to install. Chamber306 further allows for multiple deliveries by allowing parcels toaccumulate prior to retrieving the parcels from the platform, thuspossibly reducing the need to retrieve a parcel after each delivery.

To store parcels in chamber 306, a first parcel 307 may be delivered todelivery platform 300 and placed on elevating surface 312. For example,first parcel 307 may be placed on elevating surface 312 by a UAV. Inresponse to first parcel 307 being placed on elevating surface 312,elevating surface 312 may be lowered. Elevating surface 312 may belowered using one or more threaded shafts, such as threaded shaft 322,illustrated as extending below stationary surface 314. As an example,elevating surface 312 may include one or more threaded portions incontact with the one or more threaded shafts, such as threaded portion321 is illustrated in contact with threaded shaft 322. Threaded shaft322 may engage a motorized unit, not illustrated, that turns threadedshaft 322 in either a clockwise direction or a counter-clockwisedirection. In doing so, elevating surface 312 may be raised and lowered.In some cases, chamber support arm 320 may be affixed to stationarysurface 314 and extend below elevating surface 312 to provide supportfor elevating surface 312.

Continuing with this example, as elevating surface 312 is lowered, thetop of first parcel 307 is lowered as well. At some point the top offirst parcel 307 may become horizontally aligned with stationary surface314, and thus, first parcel 307 is stored in chamber 306. When the topof parcel 307 is horizontally aligned with stationary surface 314,delivery platform 300 may be ready to accept another parcel, such assecond parcel 308, for delivery. In this way, parcel 308 may be placedon top of first parcel 307 and the process repeated. That is, elevatingsurface 212 may be lowered so that second parcel 308 is stored inchamber 306 until the top of second parcel 308 is horizontally alignedwith stationary surface 314.

To determine when the top of a parcel, such as first parcel 307 orsecond parcel 308, is horizontally aligned with stationary surface 314,delivery platform 300 may comprise emitter 324, such as a laser, anddetector 326, such as a photocell. While the present disclosure isdescribed with reference to a laser and a detector, it is contemplatedthat any combination of an emitter-detector pair can detect an objectbetween the emitter-detector pair may be used. In this example, emitter324 may emit a source of light that may be detected by detector 326.Thus, when a parcel is between emitter 324 and detector 326, detector326 will not detect the light. As the parcel is lowered, the top of theparcel may drop below the beam of light emitted from emitter 324,allowing detector 326 to detect the light. At that point, deliveryplatform 300 may stop lowering elevating surface 312 and the parcel isstored in chamber 306.

Another configuration for lowering and raising elevating surface 312 isillustrated in FIG. 12. This configuration may be used in addition to orin lieu of the configuration described in FIGS. 10-11 that have one ormore vertical threaded shafts. In the configuration provided by FIG. 12,threaded shaft 322 is used in conjunction with scissor system 328 toraise and lower elevating surface 312.

Scissor system 328 may comprise first elongated member 330 and secondelongated member 334. First elongated member 330 may have a stationaryend 332 that is affixed to a location on threaded shaft 322. Stationaryend 332 is affixed to the location on threaded shaft 322 such thatstationary end 332 does not move along threaded shaft 322 as threadedshaft 322 is rotated. First elongated member 330 may also have a firstpivot joint end 338 that is opposite stationary end 332 and is pivotablyattached to elevating surface 312. Scissor system 328 may furthercomprise second elongated member 334. Second elongated member 334 mayhave movable end 336 that is engaged with threaded shaft 322, such thatmovable end 336 moves along threaded shaft 322 when threaded shaft 322is rotated. In this manner, a distance between stationary end 332 andmovable end 336 may be increased or decreased based on the rotation ofthe threaded shaft 322. Further, second elongated member 334 mayadditionally comprise second pivot joint end 340 that is oppositemovable end 336 and is pivotably attached to elevating surface 312. Thedistance between stationary end 332 and movable end 336 may be equal toor greater than a distance between first pivot joint end 338 and secondpivot joint end 340, and the distance between first pivot joint end 338and second pivot joint end 340 may be a fixed distance. In some cases, aportion of scissor system 328 may be affixed to chamber support arm 320,and chamber support arm 320 may be affixed to stationary surface 314. Inthis manner, as threaded shaft 322 is rotated, such as by using themotorized unit, elevating surface 312 is raised or lowered relative tostationary surface 314. In some embodiments, one or more guides may beused to stabilize elevating surface 312 as it is raised and lowered. Forexample, guide 344 may be fixed on one end to stationary surface 314 andmay extend downward and away from stationary surface 314, and elevatingsurface 312 may be movably secured to guide 344.

With reference now to FIG. 13, which illustrates example delivery system301, vertical track system 304 may be used to retrieve parcels fromdelivery platform 300 or to place parcels onto delivery platform 300 ata ground location. For example, delivery platform 300 may be movablysecured to vertical track system 304. What is meant by vertical tracksystem is a track system that raises and lowers delivery platform 300from an elevated position, where parcels may be delivered using a UAV,to a lowered position at or near a retrieval area, such as the ground ora containment unit (discussed in more detail below). In the loweredposition, parcels may be retrieved or dropped off by a person. Thus, inthis embodiment, delivery platform 300 may traverse all of or a portionof a vertical height from the elevated position to the lowered positionby moving vertically along vertical track system 304. This system may beused in addition to or in lieu of an elevating surface that may beraised and lowered from an elevated position to a lowered position, suchas the one described above with reference to FIGS. 6-7.

As illustrated by FIG. 13, and will be further explained below, someembodiments of delivery platform 300 can be controlled using computerapplication 352. For example, raising and lowering delivery platform300, or an elevating surface as described in some embodiments, may beperformed using computer application 352 on user device 354, bestillustrated in enlarged view 350. User device 354 can be any user devicehaving a processor executing computer readable instructions on memory.Computing device 1200 of FIG. 41 is a suitable example. Computerapplication 352 may utilize security features of user device 354, suchas facial identification, fingerprint identification, passcodes, etc. toverify an identity of a person attempting to retrieve a parcel, or usedelivery platform 300, generally. User device 354 can receive an input,for example, at input area 356 to instruct delivery platform 300 toperform a particular action, illustrated in FIG. 13 as lowering deliveryplatform 300, which is just one example. Other examples include raisinga delivery platform or elevating surface, requesting pick up or deliveryof a parcel, deploying a cover, receiving information from sensorsassociated with a delivery platform, inputting a delivery location for aparcel, and the like. User device 354 may communicate to deliveryplatform or a carrier associated with UAVs delivering to the deliveryplatform using Wi-Fi or cellular service.

With reference now to FIG. 14, in some embodiments, delivery platform300 may comprise an upper cover 318 and a lower cover 342. For example,upper cover 318 may be deployed to cover the top of delivery platform300, while lower cover 342 may be deployed to cover a bottom part ofdelivery platform 300. Each may operate in a manner similar to cover 218described in FIG. 4. Lower cover 342 may provide additional protectionto parcels on delivery platform 300. It may also provide additionalprotection to delivery platform 300 itself and vertical track system 304by making delivery platform 300 more aerodynamically stable during highwind situations. Like the other components described with reference todelivery platform 300 lower cover 342 may be used with any of theembodiments of the technology described herein.

In reference now to FIG. 15, another embodiment of a delivery platformis provided. Here, delivery platform 400 is secured directly tostructure 402, and does not use a track system. This embodiment providesadditional stability for delivery platform 400, as delivery platform 400comprises one or more arms, such as arm 406, that extend away fromdelivery platform 400 and are mounted directly to structure 402 usingmount 404. In this example embodiment, delivery platform 400 comprisesvariable volume chamber 408 to store multiple parcels. To raise andlower the parcels, delivery platform 400 may use an elevating surfacehaving a lift, which are not illustrated.

Another example embodiment of a delivery platform is provided in FIGS.16-21, which illustrates delivery platform 500 having securing area 504to facilitate UAV pick up of a parcel. FIGS. 16-21 illustrate an exampleseries of figures that illustrate a method for securing a parcel to aUAV to facilitate the UAV picking up the parcel. As illustrated,delivery platform 500 comprises delivery area 502 and securing area 504.Delivery platform 500 is illustrated having delivery area 502 andsecuring area 504 as separate areas that are separated by theoreticaldashed line 503. In some embodiments, it may be difficult to distinguishdelivery area 502 from securing area 504. In some cases, delivery area502 and securing area 504 may comprise the same area. That is, thevarious components described with respect to each of delivery area 502and securing area 504 may be found in other arrangements where sometimesa particular component may be found on delivery area 502, while in otherembodiments, it may be located on securing area 504. Although thisapplies to all components described with respect to these figures, somespecific examples are discussed in more detail. In some cases, deliveryplatform 500 may comprise a set of one or more rollers 524 that may movea parcel from delivery area 502 to securing area 504. Delivery area 502and securing area 504 are illustrated as extending to a stationary edge,wherein outer rim 516 extends upward and away from the stationary edge.

As noted, delivery platform 500 may comprise delivery area 502 andsecuring area 504. Delivery area 502 may comprise delivery surface 510.Delivery surface 510 may comprise elevating surface 512 and stationarysurface 514. Like other embodiments previously described, in some cases,elevating surface 512 may comprise all of or only a portion of deliverysurface 510. In the embodiment illustrated as delivery platform 500,delivery area 502 comprises chamber 518, which may be a variable volumechamber, such as those previously described. In addition to or in lieuof chamber 518, elevating surface 512 may be lowered and raised by alift system, not illustrated.

Additionally, delivery platform 500 is illustrated as having securingarea 504. In general, securing area 504 may facilitate pick up of aparcel, such as parcel 508 shown in FIG. 17, by a UAV. Continuing withFIG. 16, securing area 504 may comprise one or more securing arms, suchas securing arms 522A and 522B, described in more detail below. Securingarea 504 may also comprise one or more sensors 520A and 520B. Sensors520A and 520B may be embodied as an emitter, such as a laser; as acamera; or any other sensor that may detect the presence or location ofan object. As noted above, sensors 520A and 520B are shown associatedwith securing area 504, however, one or more may also be located indelivery area 502, for example to detect when a top of a parcel ishorizontally aligned with elevating surface 512 or for detectingmachine-readable indicia on the parcel.

To describe how delivery platform 500 may facilitate pick up of aparcel, such as parcel 508, reference is now made to FIGS. 17-21. Inthese figures, sensors 520A and 520B have been removed for conveniencein describing the technology. In FIG. 17, parcel 508 is atop elevatingsurface 512. Parcel 508 may arrive at elevating surface 512 by methodspreviously described. For example, elevating surface 512 may be loweredto a lowered position at or near the ground. There, a person may haveplaced parcel 508 on elevating surface 512, intending parcel 508 to bepicked up for delivery by a UAV. Elevating surface 512 may be raised toan elevated position, as shown in FIG. 17. In another example, deliveryplatform 500 may have been lowered to a lowered position, such as byusing a vertical track system, so that parcel 508 can be placed onelevating surface 512, or more generally, onto delivery surface 510. Insome cases, a combination of these methods, or other methods describedherein, may be used.

As shown in FIG. 18, parcel 508 may be moved from delivery area 502 tosecuring area 504. This is illustrated in FIG. 18 as parcel 508 movingin the direction of directional arrow 526 and crossing dashed line 503,which illustrates the theoretical “boundary” between delivery area 502and securing area 504. To move parcel 508 from delivery area 502 tosecuring area 504, delivery platform 500 may include a set of rollers524 that traverse from delivery area 502 to securing area 504. Rollers524 may be multidirectional rollers, meaning that rollers 524 may beable to rotate in any direction. Rollers 524 may be independentlymovable, such as one roller rolling in one direction, while anotherroller rolls in another direction, while yet another roller does notmove. In this way, the orientation of parcel 508 may also be adjusted byrollers 524, as illustrated by directional arrow 526. As such, parcel508 may be maneuvered by rollers 524 to orient parcel 508 to a positionwhere a UAV may pick up parcel 508.

An example of UAV 506 descending onto delivery platform 500 to pick upparcel 508 is illustrated in FIG. 19. Here, parcel 508 has been orientedso that when UAV 506 descends on parcel 508, at least a portion ofparcel carrier 528 is placed around parcel 508. Further, parcel carrier528 may be positioned around parcel 508 so that at least a portion ofparcel carrier 528 is between a securing arm pivot area, such assecuring arm pivot areas 530A and 530B, and a securing arm crossbar,such as securing arm crossbar 532A and 532B. Examples of parcel carriersthat may be suitable for use as parcel carrier 528, and with thistechnology more generally, are described in U.S. application Ser. No.15/870,187, entitled “Methods for Picking Up a Parcel Via an UnmannedAerial Vehicle,” filed Jan. 12, 2018, which is expressly incorporated byreference in its entirety.

While FIG. 19 illustrates two securing arms, securing arms 522A and522B, some embodiments of delivery platform 500 may comprise only onesecuring arm, while others may comprise more than two. In this figure,each of securing arms 522A and 522B is illustrated as having the samefeature, and thus, reference is made only to 522B when describingsecuring arm 522B in more detail; however, securing arm 522A may havesome of the same features and the discussion is equally applicable,although some components may be hidden from view in FIG. 19. Further,while securing arms 522A and 522B are illustrated as part of securingarea 504, in other embodiments, securing arms 522A and 522B may be partof delivery area 502, for example, by locating securing arms 522A and522B on opposing sides of elevating surface 512.

With continued reference to FIG. 19, securing arm 522B comprisessecuring arm pivot area 530B, first member 534B, second member 536B, andsecuring arm crossbar 532B. While not described in detail, second member534A may comprise features that are described in conjunction with firstmember 534B. First member 534B may be pivotably secured to securing armpivot area 530B at a first end 538B of first member 534B. Second member536B may be pivotably secured to securing arm pivot area 530B at asecond end 540B of second member 536B. Thus, first member 534B andsecond member 536B may pivot from a retracted positon where first member534B and second member 536B are parallel with securing surface 546, suchas in FIG. 19, to an engaged position where first member 534B and secondmember 536B are perpendicular to securing surface 546, such as in FIG.20. However, more generally, in this same manner, first member 534B andsecond member 536B may be positioned at any angle relative to securingsurface 546 along an arc created by pivoting each member about pivotarea 530B.

Continuing again with FIG. 19, securing arm 522B may comprise crossbar532B. Crossbar 532B may extend from third end 542B of first member 534B,where third end 542B is opposite first end 538B, to fourth end 544B ofsecond member 536B, where fourth end 544B is opposite second end 540B.As described, securing arm 522B may be pivoted from a retracted positionto an engaged position, such as by pivoting securing arm 522B in thedirection of directional arrow 548B, shown in FIG. 20. Keeping with FIG.20, as illustrated, by pivoting securing arm 522B to the engagedposition, crossbar 532B may be positioned above both parcel 508 and atleast a portion of parcel carrier 528. Put another way, at least aportion of parcel carrier 528 may be disposed between crossbar 532B andparcel 508. In some cases, crossbar 532B may be positioned above notch550 of parcel carrier 528.

Additionally, securing arm 522B may house strap 552B, shown in FIG. 21.For example, strap 552B may be formed of polypropylene or anotherpolymer. In some cases, strap 552B may comprise a metal, such as a wire.Continuing with FIG. 21, to secure parcel 508 to parcel carrier 528,strap 552B may be tightened to apply until strap 552B wraps aroundparcel 508 and parcel carrier 528. Strap 552B may be disposed withinnotch 550 so that strap 552B does not slip along a portion of parcelcarrier 528. After securing parcel 508 to parcel carrier 528 with one ormore straps, such as strap 552B, securing arm 522B may be moved to theretracted position by pivoting securing arm 522B in the direction ofdirectional arrow 554B. Strap 552B may be cut to form two cut ends. Thetwo cut ends may be secured together so that strap 552B wraps aroundparcel 508 and parcel carrier 528. As an example, the two cut ends ofstrap 552B may be secured together at a bottom of parcel 508, so thatparcel 508 remains secured to parcel carrier 528 until strap 552B is cutor loosened. When the securing arms, such as securing arm 522B, are inthe retracted position, UAV 506 may be free to navigate away fromdelivery platform 500 with parcel 508. As noted above, directional arrow548A and strap 552A may be analogous to directional arrow 548B and strap552B, respectively, however, with respect to securing arm 522A.

In an embodiment, crossbar 532B may not be a separate component ofsecuring arm 522B, but may itself be formed of strap 552B. In thisembodiment, a portion of strap 552B may extend from third end 542B offirst member 534B to fourth end 544B of second member 536B of securingarm 522B. Thus, after strap 552B is tightened around parcel 508 andparcel carrier 528, only first member 534B and second member 536B may bemoved to the retracted position. Another strap may then be extended fromthird end 542B to fourth end 544B and the process repeated for pick upof the next parcel.

Turning briefly to FIG. 22, parcel 508 may be released from parcelcarrier 528 of UAV 506 by disengaging the strap, such as straps 552A and552B. For instance, while not illustrated, parcel carrier 528 maycomprise a blade to cut straps 552A and 552B. In some cases, parcelcarrier 528 may apply tension to straps 552A and 552B to break it. Forexample, the tension may be applied to a weak area, such as an areawhere straps 552A and 552B were fastened when securing parcel 508 toparcel carrier 528.

Throughout this disclosure, several embodiments of delivery platformsare described. Some embodiments of the delivery platforms have beendescribed having a set of components, while other embodiments have beendescribed having a different set. It will be recognized that not allembodiments of the delivery platform can be described in thisdisclosure, and therefore, it is intended by the inventors that thevarious aspects and components described relative to each embodiment ofthe delivery platforms are interchangeable and can be in any combinationwith any other embodiment.

Containment Unit

Embodiments of the delivery platform may sometimes be used inconjunction with a containment unit that may hold a parcel until it ispicked up or retrieved by a person. For instance, the containment unitmay be located near the ground so that it is easily accessible. In somecases, the containment unit may be located on a balcony or a window of amultistory building. In some cases, the containment unit may be builtinto an exterior wall. At a high level, the containment unit may receivea parcel from a delivery platform after a UAV has released the parcel atthe delivery platform. This operates to free up space on the platform,while still providing security for the parcel and ease of access when aperson retries it. In other cases, the containment unit may be used tohold a parcel that is intended to be picked up by a UAV, and it may holdthe parcel until receiving an indication from the delivery platform thata UAV is ready to pick up the parcel. This too helps to free up space onthe delivery platform so other parcels may be delivered. Thus, using thecontainment unit in conjunction with the delivery platform allows formore parcels to be delivered from UAVs

As will be described in more detail below, embodiments of thecontainment unit may load and unload parcels from one or more ends ofthe containment unit. Thus, a containment unit may engage with otherforms of unmanned systems. Some examples of which will be furtherdescribed.

Turning to FIG. 23, an example embodiment of containment unit 600 isprovided. Containment unit 600 is shown comprising housing 602. Housing602 may comprise one or more units, such as inner housing unit 604 andouter housing unit 606. Housing 602 may also comprise floor 608, i.e.,“housing floor.” Inner housing unit 604 may comprise more than one wall.In a specific example, inner housing unit 604 may comprise twosidewalls, i.e., “inner sidewalls.” In another specific example, innerhousing unit 604 may comprise two sidewalls and a top wall. A firstsidewall may extend parallel to a second sidewall and be separated by adistance, each sidewall forming a portion of inner housing unit 604. Afirst end of the first sidewall and a first end of the second sidewallmay be connected by a first end piece 614 of inner housing unit 604,while a second end of the first sidewall and a second end of the secondsidewall may be connected by a second end piece 616 of the inner housingunit 604. In this way, the sidewalls and end pieces 614 and 616 may forma box-like that is inner housing unit 604. In some cases, inner housingunit 604 may comprise a top wall that extends from the top of the firstsidewall and the second sidewall. Though the top wall is illustrated inthe figures having an arc shape, it will be recognized that the topwall, when present, may be any shape. Inner housing unit 604 may be openon its bottom side, meaning that at least a portion of the bottom sideof inner housing unit 604 is not covered by a wall and access to aninside volume space of inner housing unit 604 may be made through anopen portion.

Outer housing unit 606 may comprise a first sidewall and a secondsidewall, i.e., “outer sidewalls.” A top wall of outer housing unit 606may connect the top of the first sidewall and the top of the secondsidewall. In this way, the sidewalls and the top wall of outer housingunit 606 may form a box-like structure having a volume and is open onboth ends. In some cases, outer housing unit 606 may include floor 608,and floor 608 may connect a bottom of the first sidewall and a bottom ofa second sidewall of outer housing unit 606. In some embodiments, floor608 may be independent of outer housing unit 606.

Inner housing unit 604 may be movable, while outer housing unit 606 maybe stationary. As an example, inner housing unit 604 may be movableusing gear 610 and gear track 612. In this example, gear track 612 maybe secured to inner housing unit 604, while gear 610 is secured to astationary portion of containment unit 600. Other mechanisms for movinginner housing unit 604 may also be used, such as an actuator system, amotorized threaded shaft, etc. In some cases, inner housing unit 604 maymove from an extended position to a retracted position. When innerhousing unit 604 is in the retracted position, outer housing unit 606may cover at least a portion of inner housing unit 604. When innerhousing unit 604 is in the retracted positon, the first sidewall and thesecond sidewall of inner housing unit 604 may be above at least aportion of floor 608. The retracted position for the inner housing unit604 is illustrated in FIG. 23.

To move from the retracted position to an extended position, innerhousing unit 604 may move in a direction indicated by either directionalarrow 624 or 626. FIG. 24 illustrates inner housing unit 604 in anextended position. Here, inner housing unit 604 has moved in thedirection of directional arrow 624. In the extended position, at least aportion of the sidewalls of inner housing unit 604 is not above floor608. In the extended position, the open portion at the bottom of innerhousing unit 604 may extend beyond edge 628 of floor 608. In theextended position, at least a portion of inner housing unit 604 mayextend beyond edge 630 of outer housing unit 606, and thus, at least aportion of inner housing unit 604 may not be covered by outer housingunit 606.

In embodiments that comprise outer housing unit 606, outer housing unit606 may serve to provide additional protection for parcels stored incontainment unit 600. For instance, if there is a parcel stored incontainment unit 600, containment unit 600 may retrieve another parcelfor storage. During retrieval of the second parcel, outer housing unit606 may protect the stored first parcel, while inner housing unit 604 isused to facilitate storage of the second parcel in containment unit 600.

Referring now to FIGS. 23-26, generally illustrate one example of howcontainment unit 600 may retrieve one or more parcels 618 from adelivery platform is provided. Only a portion of a delivery platform isshown. The figures illustrate elevating surface 620 and variable volumechamber 622 having parcels 618. Initially, the delivery platform mayreceive a parcel from a UAV. Elevating surface 620 may be lowered to alowered position where elevating surface 620 is horizontally alignedwith floor 608 of containment unit 600. Using chamber 622, the tops ofthe parcels 618 may be lowered so that they are horizontally alignedwith or they are below elevating surface 620, which may include theentirety of parcels 618 being within chamber 622.

As can be seen in FIG. 24, inner housing unit 604 may be extended fromthe retracted position to an extended position by moving inner housingunit 604 in the direction of directional arrow 624. Because the parcels618 are within chamber 622, inner housing unit 604 may be extended overparcels 618 and cover all of or a portion of elevating surface 620. Aspreviously noted, at least a portion of the bottom of inner housing unit604 may be opened to allow access to the volume space within innerhousing unit 604. By extending inner housing unit 604 over the top ofparcels 218, parcels 218 may have access to the inside of inner housingunit 604.

To insert parcels 218 within inner housing unit 604, a surface ofchamber 622 may be raised, as previously described, in the direction ofdirectional arrow 632. As the surface of chamber 622 is raised, so areparcels 218, and parcels 218 are inserted into the volume space of innerhousing unit 604, as illustrated in FIG. 25.

To remove parcels 218 from elevating surface 620 and onto floor 608 ofcontainment unit 600, inner housing unit 604 may be retracted to theretracted position by moving inner housing unit 604 in the direction ofdirectional arrow 626. As inner housing unit 604 is retracted into theretracted position, first end piece 614 begins to make contact withparcels 618, which applies a force to parcels 618 in the direction ofdirectional arrow 626, e.g., from elevating surface 620 towards floor608. Thus, parcels 618 may slide from elevating surface 620 onto floor608 of containment unit 600. Sliding parcels 618 from elevating surface620 onto floor 608 may be further facilitated by the horizontalalignment of elevating surface 620 and floor 608. An example embodimentof parcels 618 stored within containment unit 600 is illustrated in FIG.26, which shows the inner housing unit 604 in the retracted position,having moved from the extended position shown in FIG. 25.

To load parcels 618 onto elevating surface 620, for example to sendparcels 618 using a UAV delivery method, the process may act in reverse.Particularly, a person may have access to containment unit 600 byaccessing through second end piece 616, which may open for the personusing a key or by receiving a message from a user device to open. Onceparcels 618 are secured within containment unit 600, inner housing unit604 may move to the extended position. Here, second end piece 616applies a force on parcels 618 to move them onto elevating surface 620.The delivery platform may then perform methods that have previously beendescribed to facilitate retrieval of parcels 618 by the UAV.

FIGS. 27-29 illustrate an example use-case environment for a pluralityof containment units 708, 710, and 712 and delivery platform 706. Inthis use-case example, containment units 708, 710, and 712 areassociated with a multi-story, multi-occupant dwelling. In such cases,delivery platform 706 may be able to deliver parcels from each ofcontainment units 708, 710, and 712. This may have the benefit oflimiting the number of delivery platforms, while still allowingindividual people with different delivery addresses to send and receiveparcels using UAVs.

FIG. 27 illustrates delivery platform 706 having delivery surface 705.Delivery platform 706 is associated with a plurality of containmentunits. In this example, delivery platform 706 is may be usable withfirst containment unit 708, which is associated with a first deliveryaddress; second containment unit 710, which is associated with a seconddelivery address; and third containment unit 712, which is associatedwith a third delivery address. Each of the delivery addresses may be adifferent address for a respective dwelling unit.

As is shown in FIG. 27, UAV 702 is approaching delivery platform 706with parcel 704 for delivery. Once parcel 704 is released onto deliveryplatform 706, a camera of delivery platform 706 may detect and imagemachine-readable indicia on parcel 704, and the delivery address may bedetermined based on the machine-readable indicia. Based on determiningthe delivery address, delivery platform 706 may deliver parcel 704 to acontainment unit associated with the determined delivery address.

In the example illustrated by FIGS. 27-29, it is determined that one ormore parcels, including parcel 704, are to be delivered to the seconddelivery address, which is associated with second containment unit 710.Using methods previously described, delivery platform 706 may lowerelevating surface 705 to a lowered position at second containment unit710, such as in FIG. 28, so that parcel 704 may be retrieved by secondcontainment unit 710, such as in FIG. 29.

In some cases, containment units may interact with unmanned terrestrialvehicles (UTVs). FIG. 30 illustrates an example use-case environment 800having containment unit 802, UTV 804, and delivery platform 806. WhileFIG. 30 illustrates containment unit 802, UTV 804, and an embodiment ofdelivery platform 806, it is contemplated that any combination of thecomponents described herein may be used.

An embodiment of UTV 804 is illustrated in FIG. 31, which provides anexample of UTV 804 delivering one or more of parcels 810 and 812 to orfrom containment unit 802. Parcels 810 and 812 may be separated bydivider 814. In this example, UTV 804 comprises storage area 816 thatmay house one or more parcels. UTV 804 may further comprise lift 818that raises parcels 810 and 812. In some cases, lift 818 may comprise ascissor lift. UTV 804 may comprise a top portion 820 that is movable. Anopening to storage area 816 may be formed by moving top portion 820 toan open position. By opening storage area 816 at the top, lift 818 mayraise or lower parcels through the opening in the top.

FIGS. 32-36 illustrate dropping off one or more parcels 900 atcontainment unit 902 using UTV 904, having outer housing unit 908 andinner housing unit 906. In FIG. 32, UTV 904 may approach containmentunit 902 with parcels 900. UTV 904 has movable top portion 912 that maybe moved to create top opening 916 to storage area 914 of UTV 904, asillustrated in FIG. 33. After creating top opening 916 to storage area914, containment unit 902 may move inner housing unit 906 to a positionover top opening 916. As in embodiments already described, inner housingunit 906 may have an opening on the bottom that allows access to theinside of inner housing unit 906. By positioning at least a portion ofinner housing unit 906 above top opening 916 of the UTV 904, parcels 900may be raised through top opening 916 and the bottom opening of innerhousing unit 906, such as by lift 918, as can be seen in FIG. 35.Similar to methods previously described, inner housing unit 906 may moveto the retracted position, and in doing so, first end piece 910 may pullparcels 900 into containment unit 902, the position shown in FIG. 36.

Moving now to FIG. 37, another embodiment of a containment unit isprovided as containment unit 1000. Containment unit 1000 may compriseinner housing unit 1002 and outer housing unit 1004. As described inother embodiments, inner housing unit 1002 may also comprise first endpiece 1006, and inner housing unit 1002 may be movable, for example, byusing a first gear and track system 1010.

Containment unit 1000 may further comprise a movable second end piece1008. Movable second end piece 1008 may be in a first position at thelocation shown in FIG. 37. That is, when movable second end piece 1008is in the first position, movable second end piece 1008 is opposite adelivery end, i.e., the end where the parcel 1016 is being retrievedfrom or dropped off. As illustrated in FIG. 37, the delivery end is theend of containment unit 1000 having first end piece 1006. Movable secondend piece 1008 may move in a direction indicated by directional arrows1012 and 1014. For example, movable second end piece 1008 may move in adirection towards the delivery end, such as toward first end piece 1006and may move in a direction away from the delivery end, such as awayfrom first end piece 1006. By moving second end piece 1008 toward oraway from the delivery end, second end piece 1008 may facilitateremoving parcel 1016 from containment unit 1000

FIGS. 37-39 illustrate an example of removing parcel 1016 fromcontainment unit 1000 so that parcel 1016 may be retrieved by anunmanned system. For example, in FIG. 37, parcel 1016 is insidecontainment unit 1000, which includes at least inner housing unit 1002.Like other embodiments of containment units, containment unit 1000 maycomprise inner housing unit 1002 and not comprise outer housing unit1004, although containment unit 1000 is illustrated as having outerhousing unit 1004.

To remove parcel 1016, inner housing unit 1002 may move to an extendedposition, such as that shown in FIG. 38. As noted, movable second endpiece 1008 may move in the direction of the delivery end, or first endpiece 1006, by moving in the direction indicated using directional arrow1014. As illustrated in FIG. 39, when second end piece 1008 moves towardthe delivery end of containment unit 1000, it pushes parcel 1016 in thedirection of the delivery end. When parcel 1016 moves toward thedelivery end, parcel 1016 may exit a bottom opening of inner housingunit 1002 that is formed by moving inner housing unit 1002.

With reference now to FIG. 40, another embodiment of a containment unit,illustrated as containment unit 1100, is described. Here, containmentunit 1100 comprises housing 1102, which may comprise one or more housingunits. Containment unit 1100 may further comprise chamber area 1104 andmovable floor 1106, which may be movable using lift 1108. In thisembodiment, floor 1106 may be lowered, which increases the volume ofchamber area 1104, which allows for the storage of parcels 1112 withinthe chamber area 1104 and below housing 1102. Floor 1106 may also beraised to decrease the volume of chamber area 1104, which moves parcels1112 in an upward direction toward housing 1102. Parcel 1112 may bemoved upward until they are within housing 1102. In some cases, parcels1112 may be moved into housing 1102 so that parcels 1112 may be removedfrom within housing 1102 using methods previously described. Parcels1112 may be raised or lowered using floor 1106 so that a top portion ofparcels 1112 is horizontally aligned with elevating surface 1110 so thatanother parcel may be received from elevating surface 1110, notillustrated.

This disclosure provides several embodiments of containment units. Someembodiments of the containment units have been described having a set ofcomponents, while other embodiments have been described having adifferent set. For example, containment unit 1100 is described havingmovable floor 1106, while containment unit 600 is described having floor608, which is associated with one or more housing units. It will berecognized, however, that not all embodiments of the containment unitcan be described in this disclosure, and therefore, it is intended bythe inventors that the various aspects and components described relativeto each embodiment of the containment units are interchangeable and canbe in any combination with any other embodiment.

Methods

With regard to various embodiments described in this disclosure, andwith reference to the methods below, aspects of the present technologymay take the form of methods; systems; one or more computer storagemedia having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that maybe executed by one or more processors; or any combination thereof.Example methods are illustrated with reference to FIGS. 42-46

FIG. 42 illustrates a flow diagram of method 1300 for delivering aparcel. Method 1300 includes, at block 1310, approaching a deliveryplatform with a UAV having a parcel. The UAV may communicate to thedelivery platform an indication that the UAV is approaching with theparcel for release on the delivery platform. The delivery platform mayinclude any of the embodiments described herein. For example, thedelivery platform may include a delivery surface that comprises anelevating surface and a stationary surface, the elevating surface havinga lift that lowers the elevating surface from a raised position at afirst height at the delivery platform to a lowered position where theparcel may be retrieved. Method 1300 further includes, at block 1320,releasing the parcel onto the delivery platform, for example, releasingthe parcel onto the elevating surface of the delivery platform.Subsequent to the release, the elevating surface lowers the parcel to asecond height that is less than the first height. In response toreleasing the parcel on the delivery platform, method 1300 furtherincludes, at block 1330, navigating the UAV away from the deliveryplatform.

FIG. 43 provides example method 1400 for retrieving a parcel from adelivery platform. At block 1410, a UAV having a parcel carrierapproaches a delivery platform. The delivery platform may be any type ofdelivery platform described herein. In an example, the delivery platformcomprises a camera to read machine-readable indicia. At block 1420, adelivery location for the parcel is received. The delivery location canbe received at the UAV from delivery platform. The delivery location isreceived from the delivery platform based on the delivery platformdetermining the delivery location from machine-readable indicia on theparcel. The UAV uses the camera to scan the machine-readable indicia todetermine the delivery location. At block 1430, the UAV is positionedrelative to the parcel. The position of the UAV is relative to theparcel based on the parcel carrier, for example, the parcel carrier mayrequire the UAV to be positioned above the parcel carrier. The UAV canbe positioned at any point relative to the parcel, such that parcel canbe secured to or by the parcel carrier. Based on the position of theUAV, at block 1440, the parcel is secured to the parcel carrier. In anaspect, the parcel carrier closes around the parcel to secure theparcel. In another aspect, the delivery platform secures the parcel tothe parcel carrier. At block 1450, the UAV navigates away from thedelivery platform with the parcel. The UAV navigates away based on thedelivery location. That is, the UAV may navigate away from deliveryplatform to the delivery location or to an intermediate location tofacilitate delivery of the parcel to the delivery location.

Method 1500 is described with reference to FIG. 44. Method 1500 includesan example method for delivering a parcel. At block 1510, method 1500includes receiving a parcel from a UAV at a delivery platform. Thedelivery platform may include any of the embodiments described herein.For example, the delivery platform may include a delivery surface thatcomprises an elevating surface and a stationary surface, the elevatingsurface may have a lift that lowers the elevating surface from a raisedposition at the delivery platform to a lowered position. At block 1520,in response to receiving the parcel at the delivery platform, loweringthe elevating surface having the parcel from the raised position to thelowered position. The method may include receiving an indication thatthe parcel has been delivered to the delivery platform. The parcel maybe scanned by a camera on the delivery platform to determine a deliveryaddress of the parcel. For example, the camera may image amachine-readable indicia on the parcel that is associated with thedelivery information of the parcel. In some cases, the delivery addressmay be determined by receiving an indication of the delivery addressfrom the UAV. Based on determining the delivery address, the method mayinclude determining that the delivery address is associated with acontainment unit of a plurality of containment units. The elevatingsurface may be lowered to the containment unit associated with thedelivery address. At block 1530, the elevating surface is aligned with acontainment unit. The elevating surface may be lowered to horizontallyalign a bottom of the parcel with a floor of the containment unit. Basedon receiving an indication that the parcel has been retrieved by thecontainment unit (e.g., the elevating surface no longer detects theparcel's weight), at block 1540, the elevating surface may be raised tothe raised position.

An example method of retrieving a parcel is provided by method 1600 withreference to FIG. 45. Method 1600 can be performed usingcomputer-readable media that store executable instructions. Suchinstructions may be in the form of an app that is executable by a userdevice, such as a smartphone. At block 1610, an indication that a UAVhas delivered a parcel to a delivery platform may be received by theuser device. In response to receiving the indication, the user device,at block 1620, receives an input indicating a retrieval request for thedelivered parcel. In response to receiving the retrieval request, atblock 1630, the user device may communicate instructions to the deliveryplatform to initiate a retrieval process. The retrieval process mayinclude lowering an elevating surface of the delivery platform havingthe parcel from an elevated position to a lowered position.

In some cases, the elevating surface of the delivery platform may belowered to a lowered position where it is retrieved by a containmentunit. The user device may receive an indication that the parcel has beenretrieved by the containment unit. In some cases, the user device maycommunicate a retrieval request to the containment unit, where inresponse to the retrieval request to the containment unit, thecontainment unit releases the parcel.

Method 1700 provides an example method for securing a parcel to a UAV ata delivery platform. Method 1700 is described with reference to FIG. 46.At block 1710, a parcel is positioned at a securing area of a deliveryplatform. The delivery platform may be any delivery platform describedherein. Positioning the parcel at the securing area may includereceiving a parcel at an elevating surface of the delivery platform. Insuch cases, the elevating surface raises the parcel to a deliverysurface. Securing area can be separate from, part of, or the same asdelivery surface. Positioning the parcel at the securing area mayinclude maneuvering the parcel into a particular position, which may bedone using rollers. At block 1720, it is determined that that a parcelcarrier of a UAV is positioned around a parcel. This can be determinedusing sensors provided on the delivery platform, such as the camera. Atblock 1730, the parcel is secured to the UAV. The parcel can be securedto the parcel carrier of the UAV. Using one method, the parcel carrierextends a securing arm over the parcel carrier and the parcel. Theparcel carrier uses the securing arm to tighten a strap around theparcel carrier and the securing arm. The strap secures the parcel to thesecuring arm, such the UAV can be navigated away from the deliveryplatform with the parcel.

Computing Device

Referring back now to FIG. 41, an exemplary operating environment forimplementing embodiments of the present invention is shown anddesignated generally as computing device 1200. Computing device 1200 isbut one example of a suitable computing environment and is not intendedto suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of theinvention. Neither should the computing device 1200 be interpreted ashaving any dependency or requirement relating to any one or combinationof components illustrated.

The invention may be described in the general context of computer codeor machine-useable instructions, including computer-executableinstructions such as program modules, being executed by a computer orother machine, such as a personal data assistant or other handhelddevice. Generally, program modules including routines, programs,objects, components, data structures, etc. refer to code that performparticular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Theinvention may be practiced in a variety of system configurations,including hand-held devices, consumer electronics, general-purposecomputers, more specialty computing devices, etc. The invention may alsobe practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks areperformed by remote-processing devices that are linked through acommunications network.

With reference to FIG. 41, computing device 1200 includes a bus 1210that directly or indirectly couples the following devices: memory 1212,one or more processors 1214, one or more presentation components 1216,input/output ports 1218, input/output components 1220, and anillustrative power supply 1222. Bus 1210 represents what may be one ormore busses (such as an address bus, data bus, or combination thereof).Although the various blocks of FIG. 41 are shown with lines for the sakeof clarity, in reality, delineating various components is not so clear,and metaphorically, the lines would more accurately be grey and fuzzy.For example, one may consider a presentation component such as a displaydevice to be an I/O component. Also, processors have memory. Werecognize that such is the nature of the art, and reiterate that thediagram of FIG. 41 is merely illustrative of an exemplary computingdevice that can be used in connection with one or more embodiments ofthe present invention. Distinction is not made between such categoriesas “workstation,” “server,” “laptop,” “hand-held device,” etc., as allare contemplated within the scope of FIG. 41 and reference to “computingdevice.”

Computing device 1200 typically includes a variety of computer-readablemedia. Computer-readable media can be any available media that can beaccessed by computing device 1200 and includes both volatile andnonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example,and not limitation, computer-readable media may comprise computerstorage media and communication media.

Computer storage media include volatile and nonvolatile, removable andnon-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storageof information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures,program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but isnot limited to, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM),electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flashmemory or other memory technology, Compact Disc Read-Only Memory(CD-ROM), digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage,magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or othermagnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to storethe desired information and which can be accessed by computing device1200. Computer storage media excludes signals per se.

Communication media typically embodies computer-readable instructions,data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated datasignal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includesany information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means asignal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed insuch a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example,and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as awired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such asacoustic, radio frequency (RF), infrared and other wireless media.Combinations of any of the above should also be included within thescope of computer-readable media.

Memory 1212 includes computer storage media in the form of volatileand/or nonvolatile memory. The memory may be removable, non-removable,or a combination thereof. Exemplary hardware devices include solid-statememory, hard drives, optical-disc drives, etc. Computing device 1200includes one or more processors that read data from various entitiessuch as memory 1212 or 1/O components 1220. Presentation component(s)1216 present data indications to a user or other device. Exemplarypresentation components include a display device, speaker, printingcomponent, vibrating component, etc.

I/O ports 1218 allow computing device 1200 to be logically coupled toother devices including I/O components 1220, some of which may be builtin. Illustrative components include a microphone, joystick, game pad,satellite dish, scanner, printer, wireless device, etc.

Example embodiments described in and derived from the description aboveinclude the following:

Embodiment 1: A delivery platform to facilitate delivery of parcels byunmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the delivery platform comprising: adelivery surface, the delivery surface comprising a stationary surfaceand an elevating surface; a lift cable extendable from the deliveryplatform, the lift cable secured to the elevating surface, whereinextending the lift cable lowers the elevating surface from an elevatedposition to a lowered position and retracting the lift cable raises theelevating surface from the lowered position to the elevated position;and a guide wheel secured to the elevating surface and extending awayfrom the elevating surface. Embodiment 2: Embodiment 1, wherein thedelivery platform is secured to a track system, and wherein the deliveryplatform moves along the track system from a first position to a secondposition, the first position higher in elevation than the secondposition. Embodiment 3: Any of Embodiments 1-2, wherein the stationarysurface surrounds the elevating surface. Embodiment 4: Any ofEmbodiments 1-3, further comprising a cover extendable from a retractedposition to a covered position, the covered position extending over atop of the delivery surface. Embodiment 5: Any of Embodiments 1-4,wherein the cover comprises a plurality of segments that stack togetherwhen the cover is in the retracted position and extend end to end whenthe cover is in the covered position. Embodiment 6: Any of Embodiments1-5, wherein the cover is pivotably secured to the delivery platform ata pivot such that rotation about the pivot in a first direction movesthe cover from the retracted position to the covered position androtation about the pivot in a second direction opposite the firstdirection moves the cover from the covered position to the retractedposition. Embodiment 7: Any of Embodiments 1-6, further comprising achamber below the stationary surface, wherein a bottom of the chambercorresponds to the elevating surface, the chamber formed by lowering theelevating surface away from the stationary surface.

Embodiment 8: A delivery system to facilitate delivery of parcels byunmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the delivery system comprising: a tracksystem; and a delivery platform movably coupled to the track system suchthat the delivery platform moves about the track system from a firstposition to a second position, the first position having a higherelevation than the second position, wherein the delivery platformfurther comprises: a delivery surface comprising a stationary surfacehaving a stationary edge; and an outer rim extending upward and awayfrom the stationary edge. Embodiment 9: Embodiment 8 further comprisinga chamber below the stationary surface. Embodiment 10: Any ofEmbodiments 8-9, wherein the chamber comprises a bottom portioncorresponding to an elevating surface of the delivery surface, thechamber formed by lowering the elevating surface away from thestationary surface. Embodiment 11: Any of Embodiments 8-10, wherein thechamber comprises a top rim, the top rim horizontally aligned with thestationary surface, and the chamber comprises a sidewall extending fromthe top rim to the elevating surface. Embodiment 12: Any of Embodiments8-11, wherein the elevating surface contacts a threaded shaft extendingbelow the stationary surface, and wherein the elevating surface islowered by rotating the threaded shaft in a first direction and israised by rotating the threaded shaft in a second direction opposite thefirst direction. Embodiment 13: Any of Embodiments 8-12, furthercomprising an elongated member having a pivot joint end pivotablyaffixed to a bottom of the elevating surface and a movable end oppositethe pivot joint end, the movable end coupled to a shaft such thatmovement of the shaft in a first direction lowers the elevating surfaceand movement of the shaft in a second direction raises the elevatingsurface. Embodiment 14: Any of Embodiments 8-13, further comprising acover extendable from a retracted position to a covered position, thecovered position extending over a top of the delivery surface.Embodiment 15: Any of Embodiments 8-14, wherein the cover is pivotablysecured to the delivery platform at a pivot such that rotation about thepivot in a first direction moves the cover from the retracted positionto the covered position and rotation about the pivot in a seconddirection opposite the first direction moves the cover from the coveredposition to the retracted position.

Embodiment 16: A delivery platform to facilitate delivery of parcels byunmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the delivery platform comprising: adelivery surface comprising an elevating surface movable from anelevated position to a lowered position, the elevated position having ahigher elevation than the lowered position; a lift cable secured to theelevating surface, wherein extending the lift cable lowers the elevatingsurface from the elevated position to the lowered position andretracting the lift cable raises the elevating surface from the loweredposition to the elevated position; and an arm extending away from thedelivery surface to a mount. Embodiment 17: Embodiment 16, wherein thedelivery surface further comprises a stationary surface, the stationarysurface having a stationary edge and an outer rim extending upward andaway from the stationary edge. Embodiment 18: Any of Embodiments 16-17,further comprising a cover extendable from a retracted position to acovered position, the covered position extending over a top of thedelivery surface. Embodiment 19: Any of Embodiments 16-18, furthercomprising a chamber below the delivery surface, the chamber comprisinga bottom portion corresponding to the elevating surface, and comprisinga sidewall extending from a top rim of a stationary surface of thedelivery platform, the chamber formed by lowering the elevating surfacebelow the stationary surface. Embodiment 20: Any of Embodiments 16-19,further comprising a guide wheel extending from the elevating surface.

Embodiment 21: Any of Embodiments 1-20, further comprising: acontainment unit for facilitating parcel delivery, the containment unitcomprising: a housing having a housing floor, the housing comprising: astationary outer housing unit; and a movable inner housing unit, theinner housing unit having a first inner sidewall and a second innersidewall, the first inner sidewall and the second inner sidewallconnected by an end piece, the inner housing unit comprising a bottomopening between the first inner sidewall and the second inner sidewall.Embodiment 22: Embodiment 21, wherein the first inner sidewall and thesecond inner sidewall are parallel and separated by a distance.Embodiment 23: Any of Embodiments 20-22, wherein the first innersidewall and the second inner sidewall each have a first end and asecond end, the end piece connecting the first end of the first innersidewall and the first end of the second inner sidewall. Embodiment 24:Any of Embodiments 20-23, wherein the outer housing unit furthercomprises a first outer sidewall and a second outer sidewall, each ofthe first outer sidewall and the second outer sidewall having a firstend and a second end, and wherein the outer housing unit is open betweenthe first end of the first outer sidewall and the first end of thesecond outer sidewall. Embodiment 25: Any of Embodiments 20-24, whereinthe inner housing unit further comprises a gear track, the gear trackbeing in communication with a gear that is secured to a stationaryportion of the containment unit.

Embodiment 26: Any of Embodiments 1-20, further comprising a containmentunit for facilitating parcel delivery, the containment unit comprising:a housing floor having an edge; and a movable housing unit, the housingunit movable from a retracted position to an extended position, thehousing unit comprising: a first sidewall and a second sidewall, each ofthe first sidewall and the second sidewall having a first end and asecond end; a first end piece connecting the first end of the firstsidewall and the second end of the second sidewall; and a bottom openingbetween the first sidewall and the second sidewall, wherein when thehousing unit is in the retracted position, the first sidewall and thesecond sidewall are above the housing floor, and wherein when thehousing unit is in the extended position, at least a portion of both thefirst sidewall and the second sidewall extend beyond the edge of thehousing floor. Embodiment 27: Embodiment 26, wherein the housing unit isan inner housing unit, the first sidewall is a first inner sidewall, andthe second sidewall is a second inner sidewall, the containment unitfurther comprising an outer housing unit around the inner housing unit.Embodiment 28: Any of Embodiments 26-27, wherein the outer housing unitcomprises a first outer sidewall and a second outer sidewall, each ofthe first outer sidewall and the second outer sidewall having a firstend and a second end, wherein the outer housing unit is open between thefirst end of the first outer sidewall and the first end of the secondouter sidewall. Embodiment 29: Any of Embodiments 26-28, wherein when inthe retracted position, the outer housing unit covers the inner housingunit, and wherein when in the extended position, at least a portion ofthe inner housing unit is not covered by the outer housing unit.Embodiment 30: Any of Embodiments 26-29, wherein the outer housing unitis stationary. Embodiment 31: Any of Embodiments 26-30, wherein thesecond end of the first sidewall and the second end of the secondsidewall are connected by a second end piece. Embodiment 32: Any ofEmbodiments 26-31, wherein the second end piece provides access to avolume of space within the housing unit. Embodiment 33: Any ofEmbodiments 26-32, further comprising a movement mechanism, the housingunit movable from the retracted position to the extended position usingthe movement mechanism.

Embodiment 34: A method of receiving a parcel at a containment unit tofacilitate delivery of the parcel, the method comprising: extending ahousing unit of the containment unit from a retracted position to anextended position, the housing unit comprising a first sidewall and asecond sidewall, each of the first sidewall and the second sidewallhaving a first end and a second end, the housing unit further comprisinga first end piece connecting the first end of the first sidewall and thefirst end of the second sidewall; and subsequent to the parcel beingplaced in a volume of space of the housing unit, retracting the housingunit to the retracted position such that the first end piece applies aforce to the parcel that slides the parcel onto a housing floor of thehousing unit. Embodiment 35: Embodiment 34, wherein the housing unit isan inner housing unit, the first sidewall is a first inner sidewall, andthe second sidewall is a second inner sidewall, the housing unit furthercomprising an outer housing unit around the inner housing unit.Embodiment 36: Any of Embodiments 34-35, wherein the outer housing unitis stationary. Embodiment 37: Any of Embodiments 34-36, wherein theouter housing unit comprises a first outer sidewall and a second outersidewall, each of the first outer sidewall and the second outer sidewallhaving a first end and a second end, wherein the outer housing unit isopen between the first end of the first outer sidewall and the first endof the second outer sidewall. Embodiment 38: Any of Embodiments 34-37,wherein the parcel is placed through a bottom opening between the firstsidewall and the second sidewall when the housing unit is in theextended position. Embodiment 39: Any of Embodiments 34-38, wherein thesecond end of the first sidewall and the second end of the secondsidewall are connected by a second end piece, wherein the method furtherincludes providing access to the parcel using the second end piece.Embodiment 40: Any of Embodiments 34-39, wherein the housing unitfurther includes a gear track, the gear track being in communicationwith a gear that is secured to a stationary portion of the containmentunit, wherein the containment unit extends the housing unit from theretracted position to the extended position by rotating the gear.

Embodiments described in the paragraphs above may be combined with oneor more of the specifically described alternatives. In particular, anembodiment that is claimed may contain a reference, in the alternative,to more than one other embodiment. The embodiment that is claimed mayspecify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed.

The subject matter of embodiments of the invention is described withspecificity herein to meet statutory requirements. However, thedescription itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent.Rather, the inventors have contemplated that the claimed subject mattermight also be embodied in other ways, to include different steps orcombinations of steps similar to the ones described in this document, inconjunction with other present or future technologies. Moreover,although the terms “step” and/or “block” may be used herein to connotedifferent elements of methods employed, the terms should not beinterpreted as implying any particular order among or between varioussteps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individualsteps is explicitly described.

Throughout this disclosure, words such as “a” and “an,” unless otherwiseindicated to the contrary, include the plural as well as the singular.Thus, for example, the constraint of “a feature” is satisfied where oneor more features are present. Also, the term “or” includes theconjunctive, the disjunctive, and both (a or b thus includes either a orb, as well as a and b).

Embodiments of the present invention have been described in relation toparticular embodiments which are intended in all respects to beillustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments willbecome apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art to which thepresent invention pertains without departing from its scope.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one welladapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forthtogether with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherentto the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features orsub-combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of theclaims. The described technology may be made without departing from thescope, it is to be understood that all matter described herein orillustrated in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A delivery platform to facilitate delivery ofparcels by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the delivery platformcomprising: a delivery surface, the delivery surface comprising astationary surface and an elevating surface; a lift cable extendablefrom the delivery platform, the lift cable secured to the elevatingsurface, wherein extending the lift cable lowers the elevating surfacefrom an elevated position to a lowered position and retracting the liftcable raises the elevating surface from the lowered position to theelevated position; and a track system secured to the delivery platform,wherein the delivery platform moves along the track system from a firstposition to a second position, the first position higher in elevationthan the second position.
 2. The delivery platform of claim 1, furthercomprising a cover extendable from a retracted position to a coveredposition, the cover extending over a top of the delivery surface whenthe cover is in the covered position.
 3. The delivery platform of claim2, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of segments that stacktogether when the cover is in the retracted position and extend end toend when the cover is in the covered position.
 4. The delivery platformof claim 2, wherein the cover is pivotably secured to the deliveryplatform at a pivot such that rotation about the pivot in a firstdirection moves the cover from the retracted position to the coveredposition and rotation about the pivot in a second direction opposite thefirst direction moves the cover from the covered position to theretracted position.
 5. The delivery platform of claim 1, furthercomprising a chamber below the stationary surface, wherein a bottom ofthe chamber corresponds to the elevating surface, the chamber formed bylowering the elevating surface away from the stationary surface.
 6. Adelivery system to facilitate delivery of parcels by unmanned aerialvehicles (UAVs), the delivery system comprising: a track system; and adelivery platform movably coupled to the track system such that thedelivery platform moves about the track system from a first position toa second position, the first position having a higher elevation than thesecond position, wherein the delivery platform comprises: a deliverysurface comprising a stationary surface having a stationary edge about aperiphery of the stationary surface; and an outer rim extending upwardand away from the stationary edge.
 7. The delivery system of claim 6,further comprising a chamber below the stationary surface.
 8. Thedelivery system of claim 7, wherein the chamber comprises a bottomportion corresponding to an elevating surface of the delivery surface,the chamber formed by lowering the elevating surface away from thestationary surface.
 9. The delivery system of claim 7, wherein thechamber comprises a top rim, the top rim horizontally aligned with thestationary surface, and the chamber comprises a sidewall extending fromthe top rim to the elevating surface.
 10. The delivery system of claim8, wherein the elevating surface contacts a threaded shaft extendingbelow the stationary surface, and wherein the elevating surface islowered by rotating the threaded shaft in a first direction and israised by rotating the threaded shaft in a second direction opposite thefirst direction.
 11. The delivery system of claim 8, further comprisingan elongated member having a pivot joint end pivotably affixed to abottom of the elevating surface and a movable end opposite the pivotjoint end, the movable end coupled to a shaft such that movement of theshaft in a first direction lowers the elevating surface and movement ofthe shaft in a second direction raises the elevating surface.
 12. Thedelivery system of claim 6, further comprising a cover extendable from aretracted position to a covered position, the cover extending over a topof the delivery surface when the cover is in the covered position. 13.The delivery system of claim 12, wherein the cover is pivotably securedto the delivery platform at a pivot such that rotation about the pivotin a first direction moves the cover from the retracted position to thecovered position and rotation about the pivot in a second directionopposite the first direction moves the cover from the covered positionto the retracted position.
 14. A delivery platform to facilitatedelivery of parcels by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the deliveryplatform comprising: a delivery surface comprising an elevating surfacemovable from an elevated position to a lowered position, the elevatedposition having a higher elevation than the lowered position; a liftcable secured to the elevating surface, wherein extending the lift cablelowers the elevating surface from the elevated position to the loweredposition and retracting the lift cable raises the elevating surface fromthe lowered position to the elevated position; and at least one of anarm extending away from the delivery surface to a mount and a guidewheel secured to the elevating surface and extending away from theelevating surface.
 15. The delivery platform of claim 14, wherein thedelivery surface further comprises a stationary surface, the stationarysurface having a stationary edge and an outer rim extending upward andaway from the stationary edge.
 16. The delivery platform of claim 14,further comprising a cover extendable from a retracted position to acovered position, the cover extending over a top of the delivery surfacewhen the cover is in the covered position.
 17. The delivery platform ofclaim 14, further comprising a chamber below the delivery surface, thechamber comprising a bottom portion corresponding to the elevatingsurface, and comprising a sidewall extending from a top rim of astationary surface of the delivery platform, the chamber formed bylowering the elevating surface below the stationary surface.
 18. Thedelivery platform of claim 14, further comprising a guide wheelextending away from the elevating surface.